I have to admit: the title of the new Balkan Beat Box full-length, Blue Eyed Black Boy, totally made me think of America’s pop sweethearts Black Eyed Peas (of “Where Is The Love?” and “My Humps” fame) when I first heard it. Perhaps this is because once, while working at a restaurant, I overheard a really mindblowingly in-depth discussion of “Where Is The Love?” The song clearly had made an impression on the table. “It’s like that song ‘Where Is The Love.’ Because, you know, like, WHERE IS THE LOVE?” the diners earnestly asked one another. And while I could not tell them the answer to this age-old question, I could tell them this: the new Balkan Beat Box album was released April 27 on Nat Geo Music.
They probably wouldn’t have cared. But you should! Because, as Paste put it, this gypsy-influenced trio is “the dance party of the new millennium.” This latest album from the acclaimed group was self-produced by Balkan Beat Box and features a plethora of guest appearances, including a gypsy orchestra from Belgrade known as Jovica Ajdarevic Orkestar. Plus, the tracks have all the hip-hop, punk, and “world music” pizazz that savvy listeners have come to know and love.
And it’s all going on tour with them. Balkan Beat Box will bring in da noise, da funk, and well, whatever else they decide to bring in to support Blue Eyed Black Boy this summer at the venues listed below.
06.03.10 - Chicago, IL - Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park
06.04.10 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
06.05.10 - Solana Beach, CA - Fiesta Del Sol at Fletcher Cove
06.06.10 - West Hollywood, CA - The Troubadour
06.11.10 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Barby
06.17.10 - Kibutz Naan, Israel - Moadon Hadir
06.25.10 - Kibutz Be’ery, Israel - Ulam Hamofaim
06.26.10 - Haviva, Israel - IsraelLehavot
07.02.10 - Saint-Denis de Gastines, France - Saint-Denis de Gastines
07.03.10 - Cologne, Germany - Summer Jam
07.04.10 - Biarritz, France - Ehz Festival
07.10.10 - Brugge, BE- Cactus Festival
07.11.10 - Different Sounds Festival Lublin, PL
07.14.10 - Arles, France - Les Suds
07.15.10 - Cauterets, France - Latino Roc
07.16.10 - Barcelona, Spain - Crullia de Cultures
07.17.10 - London, UK - Lovebox
07.18.10 - Dour, BE - Dour Festival
07.23.10 - Timisoara, RO - Iraf
08.06.10 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza at Grant Park
08.07.10 - New York, NY - Lincoln Center Out of Doors
09.04.10 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09.05.10 - Toronto, Canada - Harbourfront Centre
• Balkan Beat Box: http://www.balkanbeatbox.com
• Nat Geo: http://bit.ly/5KuRxt
